Year 2

Pushing the Envelope officially launched on October 14 last year. Since that time, the blog has posted more than 49 topics including this one and more than 1,700 comments. Some topics have been more popular than others, and those covering issues of interest to Postal Service employees have generally received the most attention. For example, the following topics were the top five in terms of page views.

1. The OIG Wants to Know How You Feel about Sick Leave
2. Silly Rules
3. Nationwide Wage Uniformity
4. Brainstorm Ideas to Help the Postal Service
5. Brainstorm Ideas Part 2

But many of the less popular topics have also generated valuable debate about the Postal Service, its operations, and the postal industry in general. The OIG has even used reader comments and the results of blog polls in reports (for example, see Retail Technology Strategy — Automated Postal Centers and Financial Reporting Information Under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006.

As we start our second year, the contributors and editors to Pushing the Envelope would like to hear more from you on what you want from the OIG’s blog. What do you like about the blog? What can we improve? What topics would you like to see? Let us know what you think.

This topic is hosted by the OIG's Risk Analysis Research Center (RARC).

Comments (10)

Brandon

Congratulations!

Dec 20, 2010

Acai Burn

Great Job.

Oct 03, 2010

Cassandra

You are correct I remember all but one of the topics are they rightfully should be considered the most popular. Great Job.

Jul 25, 2010

Jack | Blog Mar...

I think this is great and long time over due. I don't understand why the post office doesn't do a better job of marketing.
Every month there are marketing opportunities to sell stamps and other postal memorabilia, there are reasons to promote people sending handwritten letters, postcards, and packages.
For example, for father's day you could have a contest for America's Best Dad, and the prize could be there own stamp, stamp memorabilia, and free postal service. And to enter they had to send in their applications through the mail.
Just be creative. Also, make sure the customer service is the highest priority. Having post office be the same time everyone else is at work is horrible. The bank can get away with it, but the post office can't I hope this helps!

This type of medium is what will save the USPS,
(if that is still possible). Frankly, it might be too
late. However, I believe it is not too late!!!
And the USPS is not "Too Big to Fail".
I'm a great believer in Technology (and I'm not talking about scanning bar-codes on "just in time"* operations, i.e. MVS. I'm talking about "cots applications"** that execute the adopted business model.
This is just like having a business meeting via
teleconferencing, with limitations.
But, I know Mr. Big is reading the input!!!!!!!!!
Because they know, the current executive administration has far reaching tentacles that can axe their political slot in a New York minute.
You may be a double dipping colonel today, then tomorrow, zip, you'll be working for some consulting firm that expects results.
And, as far as "tattling goes"? I think they already
know most of the current "going ons". I don't think there are any ponzi schemes that the employees are
up to. Except for maybe some of the shenanigans that
happen in middle management to keep certain fellow managers (with college degrees, or not) down.
I say open up the flood gates on ideas you might have, and give OIG credit where it's due!!!
At least they're asking your opinion!!! Geez, are
you aware of how often this happens!!! Not very....
Dude, this is "totally kool", as twixter's might say!!
Darwin even knew that "change is inevitable".
Embrace it!!!
* inventory strategy perfected by Wal-Mart Corp.
** Commercial of the Shelf-Means you don't have to
re-create the Wheel to make it work. Not proprietary
like most stove pipe organizations.

Oct 22, 2009

RARC host

Rup,
In response to your comment, I'm sorry that you feel the OIG is being sneaky, but we intend this blog to be an honest forum soliciting debate on issues important to the Postal Service. Sometimes, we do use that feedback in some of the OIG's reports.
Commenters do not have to leave their name or e-mail address. If someone makes a specific accusation more appropriate to the OIG's hotline, we don't post the comment and forward it to the hotline instead.
After working with the blog for a while, one thing that is very evident is how much deep commitment there is to the Postal Service at all levels of the organization. We hope this blog provides a forum for everyone concerned about the Postal Service and its future.

Oct 22, 2009

Rup

While the OIG blog is professional and good, there is something insidious about some of your posts.
While fostering conversation is one thing, I feel many of your posts and questions are evidence gathering in nature. After all, the OIG investigatest he Postal Service and you are soliciting postal employees to tattle on their employer.
It just seems...icky to me.
I know you have a job to do, but I would prefer you not be sneaky.

Oct 21, 2009

Ben Franklin

No they dont need the far right spin on things....they (OIG) do enough damage (spin) on their own.....

Oct 19, 2009

Anonymous

I think it's great OIG is sponsoring a space to raise issues and solicit feedback on postal issues. However, I think it will be good to broaden the topics to more public policy issues and to broaden the contributors' base by inviting guest bloggers with diverse points of views. Kudos.

Latest Blog Posts

Nearly a decade since its rollout, the Flats Sequencing System (FSS) — the football-field sized sorting machines for flats mail — is still falling short of expectations. At its inception, stakeholders were optimistic FSS would improve productivity and reduce the U.S. Postal Service’s costs for...

What do Millennials like? That’s the 43 million hits question — as in Google hits. And that’s a pretty good indication of just how focused businesses are on this generation and its rising economic power.

The U.S. Postal Service is no different. It wants to understand how Millennials might...

Latest Audit Asks

The Management Operating Data System (MODS) provides data on workload, work hours, and machine-use. In addition to supporting operational planning, MODS data are used extensively in Postal Service costing and pricing activities. Supervisors may manually enter or adjust employee work hours and...

In December 2016, Congress passed the Federal Property Management Reform Act (FPMRA). The purpose of the FPMRA is to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the federal government, including the Postal Service, in managing its property by:

The U.S. Postal Service considers mail to be delayed when it is not processed in time to meet the established delivery day. Delayed mail can adversely affect Postal Service customers and harm the organization's brand.

Comments Wanted

We encourage you to visit our blog, which has a new topic for discussion every Monday. You can also give us your thoughts and opinions about upcoming audits on our Audit Asks page. Please refer to our comment policy for further information.